Control means for vending machines and the like



CONTROL MEANS FOR VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Joh/7 Shir/ey iff/PMF J. R; SHIRLEY July 2s, 1970 CONTROL MEANS FOR VENDING MACHINES ANI) THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1968 z sheets-sheet a NUI 3 Johh `Shir/e y lm@ -United States Patent O1 hee 3,521,733 Patented July 28, 1970 3,521,733 CONTROL MEANS FOR VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE John R. Shirley, Crestwood, Mo., assigner to H. R.

Electronics Company, High Ridge, M0., a corporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,639 Int. Cl. G07f 5/10 U.S. Cl. 194-9 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Electronic control means for vending machines and other coin controlled devices which will accept coins of more than one denomination, make vends, and perform other functions, said control means including counting, memory and logic circuit means and means under the control thereof to initiate vending and other functions. The subject means are preferably designed and constructed using solid state components and are preferably packaged in a compact form so that they can be easily and quickly installed, removed and replaced in a vending machine.

Many coin operated devices are in existence including some which perform vending and other functions. For the most part the known devices are relatively complicated and are limited in their versatility. The known control means also include electromechanical components which are relatively slow acting, complicated and expensive, and they require frequent, often time consuming maintenance, repair and adjustment lwhich result in considerable machine downtime. Such devices also make the machine ou which they are installed relatively inexible to change and modification including a change in vend price and so on. This is because such devices are so mechanically interconnected with the structure and operation of the vending machine on which they are installed that they cannot easily be removed or modied even to make a simple change in the vend price. Electromechanical control devices are also relatively bulky, cumbersome, and unsuitable for many applications including use on self-contained vending machines where the space is limited.

Packaged electronic control means for vending machines such as are described in applicants Pat. No. 3,307,- 671, dated Mar. 7, 1967, and his pending application Ser. No. 708,140, led Feb. 26, 1968, have solved some of the above mentioned problems and have overcome some of the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art control devices. The means disclosed herein represent still further more simplified and somewhat more limited improvements in such controls.

The present invention teaches the construction and operation of a novel, versatile and relatively inexpensive electronic control means particularly suited to control the many functions of vending machines, and the present control means are designed more specifically to be used on vending machines that vend products all of which cost the same amount. The subject control means can also be quickly and completely removed for maintenance and other purposes, and it can be substituted for by a similar or by a modified form of the subject control means if trouble ocurs or if it is desired to change the vend price.

The subject device comprises a control circuit which includes means responsive to signals produced when coins of predetermined denominations are deposited in a vending machine. The circuit also includes means for accumulating or counting the value of the coins as they are deposited, means for initiating a vend operation when the amount accumulated by the subject circuit equals the vend price, and means for resetting the accumulating means after initiation of a vend operation. The subject circuit is preferably constructed employing solid state components to minimize its size, improve its reliability and enables it to be constructed and packaged as a compact plug-in type unit which can be quickly and easily installed, removed, replaced or substituted for in a vending machine. This can be done by a serviec or maintenance man having little or no special skill or training, and it can be done on his regular route time thereby enabling him to change a vend price or repair or replace a defective unit on his regular calls without undue labor and with a minimum of machine downtime. Being constructed insofar as possible of solid state components also makes the subject circuit relatively fast acting, trouble free and relatively easy to handle and maintain.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide improved control means for vending and other coin controlled devices.

Another object is to provide relatively simple, reliable, and inexpensive control means particularly suitable for use on single price vending machines.

Another object is to provide improved electronic control means for vending and like devices which can be quickly and easily installed as original equipment or added as an improvement to an existing device with little or no machine modification and downtime.

Another object is to make it easy to change the vend price of a vending machine.

Another object is to simplify the construction, operation and repair of vending and like devices.

Another object is to minimize maintenance and downtime on vending machines.

Another object is to provide a relatively small compact packaged plug-in type control unit for installing in vending and other coin controlled machines which unit can be carried and installed by a person having little or no special skill or training.

Another object is to enable the regular route man who servies vending machines to maintain the machines in operating condition and when necessary to change the vending price thereof.

Another object is to minimize the time required after deposit of coins in a vending machine to complete a vend operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present control means will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification which covers a preferred embodiment thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a block diagram of a control circuit constructed according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing in detail a particular embodiment of the control circuit of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 refers generally to a control circuit constructed according to the present invention. The circuit 10 is constructed to control the various operations of vending machines and other money or coin controlled devices and in particular those machines capable of vending items all of which cost the same amount. The circuit 10 operates in conjunction with and receives its input signals from a coin unit 12 on a vending machine. The input signals received are fed to counter means 14 which respond to these signals and accumulate the money value of such deposits. When the amount accumulated in the counter means 14 equals a preestablished vend price the subject circuit will be conditioned to cause several different things to happen including the energizing of means to initiate a vend operation to take place. There will also be set in motion means for resetting of the counter means 14 to some preestablished reset condition in readiness for the next vend operation and the performing of other control functions as will be explained.

Several different constructions for the counter means 14 may be used including the construction shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Some of the more common forms of counter means which could be used, for example, include binary type counters, iiip-liop counters, ring counters, shift registers, magnetic core accumulators and any of a number of other equivalent type counter means and variations thereof. It is also preferred whenever possible to construct the counter means as well as the rest of the circuitry using solid state elements for reliability and dependability and to minimize the size and weight of the circuitry. This is important because space is very limited in many vending machines.

The subject circuit is designed to be used in conjunction with the coin receiving unit 12 as aforesaid, and the unit 12 is shown in FIG. l in a simplified schematic form. The coin unit 12 as shown has provision for re ceiving nickels and dimes and it includes a nickel switch 16 and a dime switch 18. The nickel switch 16 is constructed `and positioned in the coin unit to have its normally open contacts close once for the deposit of each nickel and each dime. The dime switch 18, on the other hand, is positioned to have its normally open contacts close once for the deposit of each dime. Coin units having these general characetristics are known and available commercially.

The contacts of the nickel and dime switches 16 and 18 are shown connected between an input voltage source labeled -v. D.C. and the input side of the counter circuit 14. The counter circuit 14 also has an output connection that is connected to the input of a decoder circuit 20 which will be described more in detail later. The output of the decoder circuit 20 is connected to one input of a gate circuit 22 which is shown as an and gate. The gate circuit 22 also has a second input which is connected to the common output sides of the nickel and dime switches 16 and 18. The output side of the gate circuit 22 is connected to the input side of a vend relay driver circuit 24, and when the gate 22 is in its alternate or transferred condition caused by the simultaneous receipt at both of its inputs of signals from the decoder 20 and from the coin unit 12, it causes a vend signal to be produced to energize the relay driver 24. The driver 2-4 in turn energizes a vend relay 26 and causes a vend operation to take place in the vending machine. The signal from the coin unit 12 to the associated input of the gate circuit 22 continues for as long as the activating coin is in engagement with a coin switch therein. Thereafter when the coin switch opens the gate 22 will operate to remove the vend signal from the relay driver 24 allowing the vend relay 26 to be deenergized. When the vend relay 26 is deenergized, a reset impulse is conducted to the counter circuit 14 to restore it to a predetermined reset condition. The reset feature will be described in detail in connection with the discussion of FIG. 2.

The circuit as shown in FIG. 1 also includes a power supply portion 28 which is constructed and connected to supply the necessary D.C. operating voltages to the circuit. The power supply 28 may be of a well known construction and is shown connected to an A.C. source. The relays and other operating components of the vending machine on which the subject control is installed are not part of this invention and for the most part are of known constructions.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the details of a circuit constructed along the lines of the circuit of FIG. 1 for use on a vending machine having a coin unit capable of accepting nickels and dimes. The circuit as shown is also constructed to be used to vend items costing fifteen cents each. It should be apparent, however, that with slight modification the coin unit can be made to accept other coin denominations as well as foreign coinage, and the circuit can also be made to control vends costing other amounts. Furthermore, the circuit as shown is constructed to be used with nickel and dime deposits which is a special condition in which one kind of coin is equal to twice the other kind. This can also be modified if desired. Also in the circuit as shown the sum represented by the deposit of one first and one second denomination coin equals the vend price of the machine. This is done to simplify the understanding and explanation but obviously is not a limiting factor. With relatively slight modication the subject circuit shown can also be used to control vends at other prices as well. The elements in the circuit of FIG. 2 wherever possible are identified by numbers which correspond to the same numbers in FIG. l.

Referring to FIG. 2, the coin switches 16 and 18 as aforesaid are actuated and closed by movements of coins and when so actuated input signals are produced. These inputs are fed to the counter circuit 14 which is shown including two similar bi-stable accumulator stages 32 and 34. The bi-stable stages 32 and 34 function to accumulate the money value of coins deposited and to produce control outputs for use by other portions of the circuit and by the vending machine.

When the nickel switch 16 is closed by movement of a coin (either a nickel or a dirne) in the coin unit 12, an input is fed from the negative potential source through a resistor 35 and the movable contact of the nickel switch 16. This signal is fed through the nickel switch 16 which is now closed to an accumulator input circuit which includes a diode 36 in series with parallel connected resistor 38 and capacitor 40 connected as shown. The input side of this input circuit is also connected to ground through another capacitor 42. When the dime switch 18 is closed on the other hand the input is fed to and through a similar accumulator input circuit which includes diode 44 connected in series with parallel connected resistor 46 and capacitor 48. This input circuit is also grounded through another capacitor 50. The parallel combinations of elements 38. and 40, and 46 and 48 function as input filter circuits to shape the incoming signals, and the grounded input capacitors 42 and 50 are temporarily charged by each input signal to prevent the possibility of a false signal being fed in due to a bouncing contact in one of the coin switches. Each of the capacitors 42 and 50 is connected so that it will charge at a faster rate through the resistor 35 than it is able to discharge after the input signal which charged it is over. In this way false inputs such as might be produced by a bouncing or faulty coin switch are prevented from being entered in the counter 14.

Whenever a single nickel is deposited in the coin unit the nickel switch 16 will close momentarily allowing an input signal to pass and charge the capacitor 42. The same signal will also be fed to the input of the first bi-stable circuit 32 which includes oppositely symmetrically connected transistors 52 and 54 connected as shown. Since the circuit 32 is bi-stable it must always be in one or two different operating states in which either the transistor 52 or the transistor 54 is conducting while the other is nonconducting. The initial or reset condition of the circuit 32 is arbitrarily predetermined for the circuit as shown to be the condition in which the transistor 52 is non-conducting and the transistor 54 is conducting. This reset condition is the condition obtained when the circuit is first energized and is also the condition that is restored after each vend operation by the reset means S6 which are under control of the vend relay 26. This same reset condition is also the condition of the circuit 32 produced upon receipt of every other input signal from the coin unit.

The first incoming nickel signal from the coin unit '12 to the counter stage 32, which is a negatively going impulse, will also be fed through another capacitor 58 and a diode 60 in series therewith to the base element of the conducting transistor 54. This negative input signal will cause the transistor 54 to turn off or become non-conducting. A resistor 62 is connected between the common junction of elements 58 and 60 and the collector electrode of the transistor 54 and provides a relatively high resistance connection therebetween to charge or discharge the capacitor 58. This is done to help in switching succeeding input signals from one of the transistors 52 and 54 to the other. As soon as the transistor 54 turns off, its load resistor 64, which is connected at one side to the collector of the transistor 54 and on the opposite side to a positive source, passes a positive impulse through another resistor 66 in series therewith to the base element of the transistor 52. This positive impulse causes the transistor S2 to turn on or to start conducting thereby completing the reversal of the initial condition or state of the circuit 32.

AThe circuit 32 in its reversed condition acts as a memory circuit to remember the fact that one nickel has been deposited or entered into the counter circuit 418. This condition remains until another incoming signal is received from the coin unit to cause the circuit 32 to ip back to its previous or reset condition. This can be brought about by the deposit of a dime or a second nickel which causes a second similar negative input signal to be fed to the circuit 32.

The second input signal from the coin unit, however, instead of passing through capacitor 58 and the diode 60 passes through a similar input circuit which includes series connected capacitor 68 and diode 70 to the base of transistor 52. This signal operates in a manner similar to the first input signal but with respect to the transistor 52 which is now conducting instead of with respect to the transistor 54. The second input therefore operates to turn the transistor 52 off and this in turn causes a positive impulse to pass through its load resistor 72 and another resistor 74 in series therewith to the base of transistor 54 to turn it on again. The circuit 32 is now returned to its original reset condition which represents either no deposit or the deposit of an even number of nickels or other coins of the lowest acceptable denomination.

The circuit for the transistor 52 is similar to the circuit for the transistor 54 and includes a switching resistor 76 connected as shown. The emitter elements of both transistors 52 and S4 are shown grounded and the base elements are shown biased to an operating condition by means of a balanced circuit which includes resistors 78 and 80 respectively and a negattive voltage biasing source. The input to the circuit 32 is also shown grounded through a circuit having another resistor 82 in parallel with a capacitor 84 one side of which is connected to the common sides of the input capacitors 58 and 68. This circuit is provided to shape the input signals and to provide a discharge path for the capacitors 58 and 68.

Every time the transistor 54 is turned on, the voltage on y its collector element lwill change from some positive value to zero or near zero voltage and when this occurs a negative going D C. signal is produced and fed as an input on lead 90 to the second stage bi-stable circuit 34. The lead 90 is grounded through a resistor 91. Although the circuit 34 is similar in construction and operation to the circuit 32, having two oppositely connected transistors 92 and 94 connected as shown, the input signals which are present ou the lead 90 need only be conducted to the base of the transistor 94 if the circuit is to be used on a fifteencent vend machine. Therefore, an input signal switching network similar to that provided for the circuit 32 is not needed for the circuit 34. In the reset condition of the circuit 34 the transistor 92 is off or non-conducting and the transistor 94 is on. The circuit 34 is the ten-cent reading circuit and receives one input signal for every two changes in the state of the circuit 32. When a second input signal causes the circuit 32 to return to its original or reset state a negative going carry signal is produced as aforesaid on the lead 90 and is fed as an input to the second circuit stage 34 to be applied to the base of the transistor 94. This signal is applied through a circuit which includes series connected capacitor 96 and diode 98. This carry input causes the transistor 94 to turn off and at the same time produces a positive signal which is applied to the Cil base of the transistor 92 to turn it on. Hence after two input signals are received representing the deposit of two nickels or one dime, the circuit 32 will be in its original or rest state and the circuit 34 will be in its transferred state. With a simple modification of the circuit as shown this condition which is the ten-cent condition instead of a fifteen-cent condition, can be made sufficient to cause a vend signal to be produced.

A third input signal representing the deposit of a third nickel in the coin unit will be fed to the first stage circuit 32 as in the case of the first input signal and it will again change or transfer the state thereof. This time, however, no carry signal will be fed to change the state of the second stage circuit 34. Therefore, both circuits 32 and 34 will be in their transferred states indicating a total deposit of fifteen-cents which for the circuit as shown is sufficient to initiate a vend operation as will be explained.

It should be apparent that more or less circuit stages similar to circuit stage 32 with its switching network can be used depending upon the desired counting capacity, the cost of the desired vend, and the coin denominations that are acceptable. For example, a penny circuit, a fiftycent circuit, a dollar circuit or any number of circuits including duplications of the circuits already mentioned can be added. The subject circuit can also be adapted for use with tokens and foreign coinage with minor modifications. The circuits 32 and 34 in the simplied version of the device disclosed can accumulate a maximum setting representing the deposit of three coins of the lowest acceptable denomination. If one more stage is added similar to stage 32 the capacity will be increased to the extent that the counter 14 will be able to accumulate a total deposit representing seven of the lowest demonination coins. If still more similar circuits are added, the capacity will increase in the progression of 2-l, where n equals the number of circuit stages.

When a dime is inserted in the coinunit 12 it will alternately close the nickel and dime switches 16 and 18 during movement therethrough. In so doing, it will cause two negative input signals to be fed to the input circuit 32. The two succeeding input signals will produce succeeding changes in the state of the first counting stage 32 as in the case of the deposit of two nickels, and will also produce one change in the state of the second counting stage 34 in a manner similar to that described above for the deposit of two nickels.

The circuits 32 and 34 are connected to the and gate 22 by leads 110 and 112, respectively, which are parts of the decoder circuit 20. The lead connects the collector of the normally non-conducting transistor 52 of the first stage circuit 32 to a first gate diode 114, and the lead 112 connects the collector of the normally non-conducting transistor 92 of the second stage circuit 34 to another gate diode 116. The dodes 114 and 116 are parts of the gate circuit 22 and they have their opposite or output sides connected together and to one side of a resistor 118. The circuit 32 and/ or 34 therefore feeds a positive signal through the diode 114 and/or 116 respectively to resistor 118 whenever either or both of the circuits 32 and 34 is in its reset condition. When the counter circuits are both in their transferred states, however, the collectors of the transistors 52 and 92 drop to zero or near zero .potential as aforesaid and the resistor 118 is thereby effectively grounded through the diodes 114 and 116.

The gate 22 is also connected to the output sides of the coin switches 16 and 18 through a circuit which includes resistors 120 and 122 connected respectively to the coin switches 16 and 18. The gate sides of the resistors 120 and 122 are connected together and to one side of another resistor 124 which has its opposite side connected to a positive potential source. The common connection between the resistors 120, 122 and 124 is also connected on one side of a resistor 126 which has its opposite side connected to one side of the resistor 118 as shown. When either the coin switch 16 or 18 is closed by movement of 7 a coin thereagainst a negative potential will be fed across the associated resistor 120 or 122 to establish a voltage divider network with the resistor 124. This causes the normally relatively positive potential at the junction between the resistors 120, 122, 124 and 126 to be reduced to a more negative potential, and this more negative potential will appear between resistors 126 and 118 whenever the opposite side of resistor 118 is at or near ground potential. This will be the case whenever the circuit stages 32 and 34 are simultaneously in states indicating a total deposit of fteen cents as aforesaid. The negative potential between resistors 126 and 118 is fed as an output of the gate circuit to the base of a transistor 128 which is part of the vend relay driver circuit 24. Therefore to produce a vend output signal from the gate 22, a coin must be in position holding closed either the coin switch 16 or the coin switch 18 while at the same time the counter 14 is in the condition representing the selected vend price which in the case illustrated is fteen cents. The time required for the circuit stages 32 and 34 of the counter 14 to change to the correct states to represent the amount deposited after receiving a signal from the coin unit 12 is relatively short in comparison to the time that the actuating coin is engaged with and actuating one or the other of the coin switches. Therefore, every time the gate 22 receives the correct signal from the decoder 20 it will still be receiving a signal directly from one of the coin switches and a vend signal will be transmitted. Once the vend signal is produced and applied to the base of the transistor 128 mechanism included in the vending machine which is not part of the invention will be placed The transistor 128 of the vend relay driver 24 is normally biased to a conducting state by resistors 124 and 126 connected in series with the positive potential source. The negative signal from the gate circuit 22 Awhich is applied to the base of transistor 128, however, causes it to become non-conducting. A load resistor 130 connected between a positive potential source and the collector of the transistor 128 causes the collector to be at zero or near zero potential when the transistor is in its conducting state. When the transistor 128 becomes non-conducting due to receipt of a negative vend signal from the gate circuit 22, a positive potential will be conducted from the collector through a circuit Iwhich includes series connected resistors 132 and 134 which are connected to a negative potential source. The resistors 130, 132 and 134 therefore act as a voltage divider network between the positive and negative source so that when transistor 128 becomes non-conducting the potential at the junction between resistors 132 and 134 changes from a relatively low or negative value to a more positive value. This junction is also connected to the base of another transistor 136 in the vend relay driver circuit 24 which is normally biased to a non-conducting state by the above -voltage divider network. When the potential at this junction becomes more positive it will cause the transistor 136 to conduct. The emitter of the transistor 136 is grounded, and its collector is connected to a positive source through a relay coil 138 which is part of the vend relay 26. Inasmuch as the emitter of the transistor 136 is grounded, when the transistor 136 conducts, sucient current flows through the relay coil 138 to pull in the Vend relay 26 thereby closing its normally open contacts 140. The relay contacts 140 are connected in a power circuit between power supply leads labeled L1 and L3 which have their opposite ends connected to means in the vending machine which operate to cause a vend. A diode 141 is also connected in parallel across the relay coil 138 for safety reasons to protect the transistor 136 from transients and other effects such as might be created by the inductance of the relay coil 138.

The reset means 56 which are provided to reset the counter circuits 32 and 34 are under the control of normally closed reset relay contacts 142 which are mechanically ganged to operate with the normally open vend relay contacts 140. When the contacts 142 are closed a positive potential is applied to a circuit which includes parallel connected resistor 144 and capacitor 146 to keep vthe capacitor 146 in a charged condition. When the vend relay contacts close to produce a vend operation, the reset contacts 142 simultaneously open and remove the positive potential from capacitor 146. The capacitor 146 is therefore able to discharge through its shunting resistor 144. Thereafter, when the coin which initiated the yend operation has passed through the coin unit, both coin switches will be open and this will cause the input signal applied to the gate 22 to cease. The vend relay driver 24 and the vend relay 26 will then be deenergized and return to their normal non-vend conditions. In so doing the reset relay contacts 142 will reclose to reestablish a circuit to charge the capacitor 146 `which by then should be discharged. The recharging of the capacitor 146 will cause a positive reset signal to pass through a series connected diode 148 which has its opposite side connected to other circuits associated with the counter stages 32 and 34. One of these circuits includes series connected diode 150 and resistor 152 the opposite side of which is connected to the base of the transistor 54 to reset the circuit 32, and the other such circuit includes series connected diode 154 and resistor 156 which has its opposite side connected to the base of the transistor 94 to reset the circuit 34. After occurrence of a reset signal the control circuit 10 will be in its reset condition ready to accept more coins for the next vend operation.

It is important that the resistance of the resistor 144 connected across the capacitor 146 be relatively high so as to vbe able to reduce the positive potential normally conducted through the relay contacts 142 to near zero potential except when the capacitor 146 is discharged. This is necessary to keep the circuit stages 32 and 34 from being undesirably reset which might otherwise occur. In other words, a reset operation should occur when the capacitor 146 is substantially discharged at a time when the relay reset contacts 142 close which can only occur after a vend operation is initiated as evidenced by the deenergizing of the vend relay 24. The capacitor 146 will also pass a positive reset signal whenever the power to the circuit is initially turned on. This is desirable to assure that the counter circuits 32 and 34 will always start in their reset states. It is also possible to provide a direct connection between the output of the logic circuit 22 and the reset means to more directly produce a reset operation every time one of the coin switches reopens at a time when the counter 14 has an amount accumulated at least equal to the vend price.

The power supply 28 for the circuit of FIG. 2 includes transformer 160 having a primary winding 162 connected to input power leads L1 and L2. The transformer secondary winding 164 is connected to a rectifier circuit 166 which is constructed to produce both the positive and negative voltages necessary to operate the circuit 10. The rectier circuit 166 includes a pair of oppositely polarized diodes or rectiers 168 and 170 connected on one side to the ungrounded side of the secondary winding 164, and the opposite side of diode 168 is connected through a resistor 172 to one side of a grounded capacitor 174 and resistor 176 to provide the required negative circuit Voltage labeled The opposite side of the diode is connected to the ungrounded side of another capacitor 180 to produce the more positive circuit voltage appropriately labeled By properly arranging the circuit connections including the connections to the counting circuit, the decoder circuit 20 and the connections to the gate circuit 22 it is possible to establish ditferent vend prices. An example of this would be obtained by connecting the lead 110 to the collector of the transistor 54 instead of to the collector of the transistor 52 or by eliminating the connection altogether. The circuit would then produce a vend after the deposit of two coins of the lowest acceptable denominations instead of requiring three or the equivalent. It is also possible as stated above to change the number of counting circuits employed to vary the counting and/or accumulating capacity and to enable the circuit to handle an even greater range of vend price possibilities. The subject circuit can also be modified for use with a greater variety of coin denominations.

Thus, there has been shown and described a novel coin controlled circuit for use With vending machines and similar devices which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations, adaptations and other uses and applications of the subject control circuit will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specifica- Y tion and the accompanying drawings which disclose one of many possible embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations, adaptations and other uses and applications of the subject control device which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A control circuit for vending machines capable of vending goods at a preestablished price, said vending macihne having vend control means and coin receiving means able to receive coins deposited therein and capable ot' producing outputs to represent the value of each coin deposited, said control circuit comprising counting means operatively connected to the coin receiving means and including means responsive to the outputs produced by the coin receiving means to accumulate the value of coins deposited therein, said counting means including means producing an output whenever the amount accumulated therein at least equals the preestablished price, logic means having a first input connected to respond to the outputs of the coin receiving means, a second input connected to respond to the outputs of the counting means, and an output operatively connected to the vend control means to initiate a vend operation whenever inputs are being received at both said first and said second inputs to said logic means.

2. The control circuit defined in claim 1 including means for resetting the counting means, said reset means including a reset energy source, and means under control of the output of the logic means for controlling application of said reset energy source to the counting means.

3. The control circuit defined in claim 1 including means for resetting the counting means after the initiation of each vend operation, said reset means including a reset voltage source, charge storage means operatively connected to the counting means, and switch means under control ofthe vend control means on the vending machine connected between the charge storage means and the reset voltage source said switch means operating to interrupt communication between the reset voltage source and the charge storage means when a vend is initiated and thereafter operating to reestablish communication therebetween, the reestablishment of communication between the reset voltage source and the charge storage means operating to generate a reset signal from said charge storage means to the counting means to reset the counting means to a predetermined reset condition.

4. The control circuit defined in claim 3 wherein said switch means include relay switch means.

5. The control circuit defined in claim 1 including means for packaging said control circuit in a substantially sealed plug-in type container means.

6. A control circuit for vending and like machines which include coin units able to receive coins deposited therein and capable of producing output impulses to represent the value of each coin deposited comprising bistable counting circuit stages arranged in order to be energized sequentially in response to the receipt of impulses produced when coins of selected denominations are deposited in the vending machine, the condition of said stages at any time representing the value of coinage deposited, each of said stages causing a change in the condition of the succeeding stage whenever it goes into a selected one of its operating states, said counting means` including means for producing an output signal whenever the amount accumulated therein at least equals an established vend price,. logic circuit means having a iirst input connected to respond to the output signals produced by the counting means, a second input connected to respond to the output impulses produced when coins are deposited in the coin unit, a logic circuit output on which a control signal is produced whenever an input signal and an input impulse are simultaneously present at said first and second inputs respectively.

7. The control circuit defined in claim 6 including a reset energy source and means under control of the control signal produced at the output of the logic circuit for operatively connecting the reset energy source to the counting means to reset said counting rneans to a predetermined reset condition.

8. The control circuit defined in claim 6 wherein said counting means include a plurality of bi-stable circuits connected in succeeding circuit stages, each of said stages having an input and an output, and at least one of said stages changing its operating state each time an output impulse is produced by the coin unit.

9. The control circuit defined in claim 8 wherein the plurality of bi-stable circuit stages include a first stage having an input connected to respond to each output impulse produced when a coin is deposited in the coin unit, and means included in said first stage for effecting a change in the state of a succeeding stage in response to the receipt at its input of every other output impulse from the coin unit.

10. Means for controlling the operation of a coin controlled machine such as a vending machine which includes vend control means and coin receiving means including means for producing at least one output signal to repersent the value of each coin deposited therein, said control means comprising counting means having an input operatively connected to the coin receiving means and responsive to the output signals produced thereby to accumulate an amount therein that represents the value of coins deposited during each vend operation, said counting means including a counting circuit having a plurality of counting circuit stages each capable of being in one of two distinct operating states, said counting means including means for producing a control output signal whenever the amount accumulated therein at least equals an established vend price, logic circuit -means having a first input connected to respond to the control output signals of the counting means, a second input connected to respond to the output signals produced by the coin receiving means, and a logic circuit output, said logic circuit producing a logic output signal at its output whenever input signals are received at both said first and said second logic circuit inputs.

11. The control means defined in claim 10 including reset means having an input connected to respond to the output signals of the coin receiving means and an output connected to energize the stages of the counting means to reset them to predetermined reset conditions, and means for enabling the reset means after initiation of each vend operation.

12. A control circuit for a vending machine having a coin receiving unit including means for receiving coins of selected denominations and producing output signals to represent the valu`e of each coin deposited therein, and means on the vending machine energizable to produce a vend operation, said control circuit comprising counter circuit means having a first input connected to receive the output signals produced by the deposit of coins in the coin receiving unit, a reset input, and a counter output on which is produced an output signal whenever a predetermined Condition exists in said counter circuit means, a gate l l l 2 circuit having a first input connected to the output of the 14. The control circuit dened in claim 12 wherein said counter circuit means, a second input connected to recounter circuit means include magnetic core counter spond to the output signals produced by the coin receiving means. unit, and a gate output operatively connected to initiate References Cited energizing of the vend producing means Whenever input signals are presented to both said first and second gate 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS inputs, and reset means operatively connected to the coun- 3 254 249 6/1966 Scherer 194 13 X ter circuit reset input to reset the counter circuit means 3279480 10/1966 Jarvis to a predetermined reset condition, said reset means being 3307671 3 /1967 Shirle, 1% 10 activated under control of the gate circuit output. lo 314282157 2/1969 Pattersogt 194 2 13. The control circuit defined in claim 12 wherein said counter circuit means include a ring counter. SAMUEL F- COLEMAN, Pflmafy Examlnef UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,521,733 July 28, 1970 John R. Shirley It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 43, "negattive" should read negative Column 6, line 4, "rest" should read reset line 37, czoinunit'1 should read coin unit Column 7, line 3l, after "placed" insert in motion to produce a vend cycle Column 8,

Signed and sealed this 23rd dayof February 1971.

Attest:

Edwnrd M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

